Electric power switch



Nov. 15, 1932.

J. M. VAN SPLUNTER I ELECTRIC POWER SWITCH Filed Nov. 14, 1930 Patented Nov. 15, 1932 PATENT OFFICE JOHN M. VAN SPLUNTEB, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN ELECTRIC POWER SWITCH Application filed November 14, 1930. Serial No. 495,609.

This invention relates to electric power switches, and it has among its objects the provision of an improved type of unitary switch construction specially adapted, al-

though not limited, for use as a multiphase disconnecting switch for high power voltage circuits, securing economies in manufacture, mounting and maintenance and simplifying the design and construction of electric power stations. v

The objects of the invention will be best understood from the following description of an exemplification thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is an end view of a disconnecting switch embodying the invention; and

ig. 2 is an elevation of the switch of Fig. 1.

Electric power stations employ a very great I number of large disconnecting switches for closing and opening the circuits leading to the individual apparatus. It is at present the uniform practice to use exclusively, threephase apparatus so that practically all such disconnecting switches are made of at least three units, one disconnecting switch for switch unit embodying the 1nvent1on.

each of the phases. Such disconnecting switches are relatively large in size and in Weight, and in accordance with the practice I followed heretofore, were made up of a 33 plurality of switch units, one for each phase. Each unit comprised a relatively heavy base plate carrying at its opposite endsa pair of insulating posts on the free ends of which were mounted the contact members and the switch blade for closing and opening the circuit. To mount t-heswitch, suitable provisions had to be made in the design of the power station so as to permit mounting of the three switches in alignment, and also for the O mounting of an operating shaft by means of which the individual blades of the three switch units were operated in unison as required for practical operation. Since, for thesatisfactory operation of the switches, the individual units had to be aligned with each other, great care had to be taken in providing in the building structure suitable mounting surfaces for the individual elements, all properly aligned so as to secure c0- operative working of the several switch parts.

This was costly, required considerable time in mounting the switches, and made changes and remodeling of the station diflicult.

In accordance with my invention, the difiiculties and drawbacks of the prior art switches of this type are eliminated by constructing the switches for the several phases as a unit complete with actuating shaft and actuating members, so that the switch has all its members properly aligned in cooperative relationship and all difficulties of alignment and mounting encountered in the prior art switches eliminated. The complete polyphase switch unit may be readily mounted in any place by a few bolts and all special work on alignment, etc. of the mounting places, as required in prior art switches, is avoided. This not only secures economy in manufacture and simplification of construction, but in addition, makes possibleready re-arrangements and remodeling of stations and quick adaptation of the switches to the various uses for which they may be wanted in power stations.

In the drawing is shown a three-phase The switch comprises a rigid metallic frame 1 formed of two transverse supports 2 and a' pair of lonigtudinal rails 3 secured to each other to constitute a rigid rectangular structure. The transverse supports 2 are made of cast iron and are provided at the opposite ends with supporting brackets 3 forming legs adapted to be secured against the supporting surfacesby means of bolts 4 to hold the frame. The parts of the supportlng members extending between the oppositebrackets are of T-cross section and form at the opposite ends relatively wide, upstanding bearing surfaces 5.

The bearing surfaces 5 of the two supporting members are aligned and have secured thereto one side of the angle-shaped rail members 3, the other side of the angle iron members constituting flat mounting surfaces 6. On the flat mounting surfaces of these rails are mounted three sets, each comprising one pair, of insulating posts 7 made of corrugated porcelain for instance, the posts having at their bases a suitable hardware member 8 having a flat base surface secured on both sides to the flat mounting surface 6 of the rail by means of bolts 9. To the top of the insulating posts are secured metal caps 10 on which are mounted contact blocks 11 having contact fingers 12 and connecting lugs 13 to which line conductors 14 may be connected as by means of bolts 15. Three contact blades 16 are pivotally mounted, as by pivot pins 17, between the contact fingers 12 of the supporting posts lying on one side of the frame, the individual blades being movable from the closed position shown by full lines in Fig. 1 to'the open position 16 as shownby dotted lines.

To actuate the switch there is provided a shaft 19 extending longitudinally of the frame betweenthe two rails 3. The shaft is journalledbymeans of bearings 20 secured to the upstanding walls of the transverse supporting members 2 so as to permit rotation of the shaft. The shaft has fixedly mounted thereon three actuating levers 23, and an insulating. connecting rod 24 has its ends pivotally joined to the end of the lever and to an intermediate point of the blade 16 so that upon rotation of the shaft, and movement of the actuating lever 23 over the are indicated at 25, the blade 16 will be brought from the closed position to the open position and vice versa. The insulating rods, one for each switch set, are shown made of suitably impregnated wood and have at their ends metallic clevises 26 provided with extensions 27 by means of which the pivotal connections with the blades and the actuating levers 23 are made.

Tov prevent excessive rotational movement of the operating shaft 19 and define the limits of the movement of the switch blade, there are mounted on the shaft at the points adjacent to the supporting members 2., stop members: 28 adapted to engage at the ends of their movement, stopping pins 29 fixedly mounted on the central rib of the T-shaped supporting members. The shaft 19 may bev actuated in any of the various ways in which switches of the kind are actuated, either electrically or mechanically. In the arrangement illustrated in the drawing, the shaft 19 carries an operating lever 31 which is connected by an operating rod 32' to a suitably pivoted hand lever 33, so that upon up-and-down movement of the hand lever, the switch will be closed or opened.

In order to stiffen the switch structures, the opposite rails 3 of the frame may be secured and braced against each other by means of angle-iron braces 34L having their ends bolted to the upstanding surfaces of the rail members, by means of bolts 35. These transverse braces are used only when the switch is relatively long, so as to secure a rigid frame structure. In such cases it is also preferable to provide intermediate supporting bearings 36 secured to the braces 34 for supporting the operating shaft 19, since the shaft has to transmit relatively large forces. By the use of such intermediate bearings, distortion of the shaft under the heavy strains is eliminated.

In the drawing 1 have shown a switch of the three-phase single-throw. type, but the construction described is of course equally suitable for switches of the double-throw type and for any other number of phases.

By the use of switches as described above, the necessity of individually mounting and aligning the switches for the several phases and separately mounting the operating shaft and the associated elements as followed in the prior art practice is avoided, The complete switch unit may be quickly mounted in place in the most suitable position, without dependence on the details of construction of the station building and without in any way impairing or affecting the operation of the switch.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art, that the specific details and materials used in the above described exemplification of the invention may be varied and other details and materials used instead. It is accordingly desired that the appended claims be given a broad construction commensurate with the scope of the invention within the art.

I claim:

1. An electric power switch comprising a plurality of longitudinallyextending parallel metallic rail members, a plurality of metallic transverse members secured to said rail members to constitute therewith a rigid self-supporting frame, a plurality of sets of insulating posts mounted in alingnment opposite each other on said rail members, contact members on the free ends of said insulating posts, contact blades pivotally mounted on the contact members carried by the posts mounted on one rail member for pivotal movement to establish and break contact with the corresponding contact members on the post carried by the opposite rail member, a shaft extending lengthwise of said rails, bearings mounted on said transverse members for journalling said shaft on said frame, insulating connections between said shaft and said blades for pivoting said blades between the closed and open positions upon angular movement of said shaft in said bearings, and means for detachably securing said frame as a unit to a support.

2. An electric power switch comprising a plurality of transverse metallic frame members. each having at its opposite ends rearwardly aligned mounting brackets for detachably mounting on a support and upstanding aligned bearing surfaces, a pair of angle-shaped metallic rails secured to the opposite ends of the transverse members, each rail having one angle side clamped against the aligned bearing surfaces of the brackets, the other angle side of said rails constituting substantially flat mounting surfaces, a plurality of sets of insulating posts aligned opposite to each other on the opposite rails and having fiat bases individually secured to said flat mounting surfaces, contact members carried by the individual sets of posts for connection in individually controlled circuits, contact blades pivotally mounted on the contact members carried by the posts mounted on one rail for pivotal movement to establish and break contact With the corresponding contact member on the post carried by the opposite rail, a shaft extending parallel to said rails journalled in said frame, hearings on said transverse members journaling said shaft and insulating rods between said shaft and said blades for closing and opening said blades upon angular movement of said shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 11th day of November, 1930.

JOHN M. VAN SPLUNTER.

' "power" insert the word high";

CERTlFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No'. 1,887,742. November 15, 1932.

JOHN M. VAN SPLUNTER.

rinted specification of the Page 1, line 6, after page 2, line 47, forl'the" read "this"; and

that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of December, A. D. 1932.

'it is hereby certified that error appears in the p above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Patent No'. 1, 887, 742.

" "'power insert the word "hi h"; page CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

November 15, 1932.

JOHN M. VAN SPLUNTER.

' It' is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page '1, line v6, after 2, line 47, fordthe read "this"; and

that the 'said Letters Patent should be read with these the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 20th day of December, A. D. 1932.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) corrections therein that Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

